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Ramsey addresses legislators in Frankfort

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UofL Today
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last modified
Feb 18, 2010 04:53 PM

University of Louisville President James Ramsey told Kentucky lawmakers Feb. 18 that UofL has made significant progress in research and graduation rates despite have received nine state budget cuts in nine years.

James Ramsey

Addressing the House Budget Review Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education, Ramsey said that UofL has cut or avoided $145 million in costs during the past seven years while ramping up efforts to turn such underperforming assets as Shelby Campus into revenue generators.

UofL also has made strides in cancer, diabetes and spinal cord injury research and has improved the academic outcomes of its students, he said.

Lawmakers are grappling with huge budget shortfalls for the coming biennium.

Ramsey told the budget committee that if forced to make a choice, UofL would prefer money to maintain and operate its existing buildings rather than receiving money for a much-needed classroom building.

He urged the legislators to protect higher education funding.

"We know these are tough times," Ramsey said. "We're doing everything we can to move forward. This is the time when Kentucky needs to leapfrog. We don't need to stay in place. We need to leapfrog and to advance. We cannot fall back."